Anna Jarvis organized the first Mother’s Day observances in Grafton, West Virginia, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 10, 1908. As the annual celebration became popular throughout the nation, Jarvis became the driving force behind Mother’s Day and asked members of Congress to set aside a day to honor mothers. She succeeded in 1914 when Congress designated the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
Shopping
Mother’s Day spending is expected to total a near-record $23.1 billion this year, according to the annual survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. A total of 86 percent of Americans will celebrate Mother’s Day and spend an average of $180 per person.
The expected spending would be second only to last year’s $23.6 billion, the highest in the 15-year history of the survey at an average $186 per person.
Consumers plan to spend $4.6 billion on jewelry, purchased by 34 percent of shoppers; $4.4 billion on special outings such as dinner or brunch, 55 percent; and $2.6 billion on flowers, 69 percent, according to the survey.
In addition, $2.5 billion will be spent on gift cards,45 percent; $2.1 billion on clothing, 36 percent; $2.1 billion on consumer electronics, 14 percent; and $1.8 billion on personal services such as a spa day, 24 percent. Another $956 million will be spent on housewares or gardening tools, 19 percent; $813 million on greeting cards, 77 percent; and $494 million on books or music, 19 percent.
Individuals ages 35-44 will be the biggest spenders this year at an average of $224. Those between 18-24 will most likely use smartphones to research their purchases and compare prices at 62 percent.
When searching for gifts, 35 percent of consumers will go to department stores and 31 percent will shop online, while 29 percent plan to shop at specialty stores such as florists, jewelers, or electronics stores. Twenty-three percent plan to shop at a local small business, 22 percent at discount stores, and 10 percent at specialty clothing stores.
Mothers
Here are facts and figures on moms for Mother’s Day 2018:
83 million
The number of mothers living today in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. There are about 2 billion mothers living worldwide.
26.4%
The average age in the U.S. for first-time mothers in 2015. In 2000, it was 24.9 years old.
86%
The share of U.S. women at the end of their childbearing years, ages 40 to 44, who had ever given birth in 2016, up from 80 percent in 2006.
82%
The percentage of births by Millennial moms in 2016. Millennials were born from 1981 to 1996. Millennial births have grown rapidly in recent years and reached more than 17 million in 2016, according to the Pew Research Center.
25
The number of hours moms spent on paid work in 2016, compared with nine hours in 1965.
24%
The number of mothers who are single.
$67,619
The amount the various tasks moms perform at home would be worth, up from $65,523 in 2016, a year in the professional world, according to the Insure.com 2017 Mother's Day Index.
25%
The amount of all holiday flower and plant purchases made for Mother's Day.
122 million
The number of phone calls made to moms on Mother's Day in the U.S.
50
The number of countries that celebrate Mother's Day throughout the world.
